Neighbors disagree over dam removal in Marshfield

The future of Chandler’s Pond is looking murky, as the owner of a dam is thinking about removing it over the objection of neighbors who say the resulting swamp would threaten property values and wildlife. After purchasing his Chase Street home in 2005, Bill Earley learned the dam on his property was stopping water flow to the South River, causing residents downstream to complain about mosquitoes and other hazards.

By Jessica Trufant

The Enterprise, Brockton, MA

By Jessica Trufant

Posted Oct. 12, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 12, 2013 at 12:09 PM

By Jessica Trufant

Posted Oct. 12, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 12, 2013 at 12:09 PM

MARSHFIELD

» Social News

The future of Chandler’s Pond is looking murky, as the owner of a dam is thinking about removing it over the objection of neighbors who say the resulting swamp would threaten property values and wildlife. After purchasing his Chase Street home in 2005, Bill Earley learned the dam on his property was stopping water flow to the South River, causing residents downstream to complain about mosquitoes and other hazards.

The town in 2008 issued an order of conditions requiring Earley to maintain enough flow to the river, Conservation Agent Jay Wennemer said, and now after some water was let through the pond is at low levels.

But the century-old dam is now the center of a neighborhood dispute, as Earley pursues studies and funding to remove it, to the dismay of neighbors who say the resulting mud could harm animals, people and home values.

“The dam has outlived its usefulness, and it’s a huge liability on me. People could lose their lives if it failed and the water rushed down,” Earley said.

Working with officials and the North and South Rivers Watershed Association, Earley last year held two meetings with neighbors about the dam. He offered to sell it for one cent, but there were no takers.

Earley has since been working with the watershed association to secure funding for studies and engineering work for the removal, which he said could cost as much as $500,000.

But after more consideration, neighbors approached Earley several months ago about purchasing the dam. He said what could have been a “pretty simple transaction” has become a back-and-forth ordeal.

“If they want it, they can have it and the liability that goes with it, but they’re making it complicated,” he said.

Neighbor Laura Oot-Sheridan said neighbors do not feel Earley is negotiating with them in good faith, and he now wants $10,000 for it due to the work he has started.

“We would pool the money together, but it doesn’t seem to be the money. He’s not making it a viable deal,” she said. “It’s selfish in a way because the pond has been there for hundreds of years, and it’s an awesome resource with public access.”

Samantha Woods of the watershed association said the group supports removing the dam as long as it is feasible and safe.

“When a dam is in disrepair and there’s an option to remove it, then we like to restore connectivity that has been cut off,” she said.

The dam prevents adult fish from going upstream to spawn, so removing it would help in that sense.

“It would go a long, long way to restoring the number of herring in the South River,” said Wennemer.

Oot-Sheridan said the water level is already low, and a doe had to be destroyed in August after it got stuck in the mud.

Page 2 of 2 - “The mud is an environmental hazard, and it’s not returning to its natural state,” she said.

Wennemer and Woods both said the pond would likely revert to wetlands.

“It will be wet, but it will re-vegetate within a season,” Woods said.